Flux for extracting metals from ores.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLUX FOR EXTRACTING METALS FROM ORES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application filed November 3.1905. Serial No. 285,793.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLF GUTENsoHN, a subject of the King of Bavaria,German Empire, residing at Southend, county of Essex, England, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for ExtractingMetals from Ores and Waste Materials, (Tailings;) and I do herebydeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a special flux or reducing agent forextracting metals from ores or waste material containing the same, andhas special reference to ores holding metals in silicious combinationsand tailings mixed with silicious impurities.

The salient feature of the invention is the use of borate of manganesewith other reducing and slag-liquefying agents. This flux is composed ofborate of manganese, carbon, and a slag-liquefying material, preferablyfiuor-sp ar. These ingredients are to be finely ground and intimatelymixed. I also prefer to add a sticky hydrocarbon, such as gas-tar. Thislast-mentioned article is not essential, but by its addition the lighteringredient (the borate of manganese) is prevented from rising out of theheavier ones.

The proportions of the ab ove-mentioned ingredients vary according tothe kind of metal to be extracted and the class of ore, but thefollowing give good results for tin, nickel, copper, and zinc: one partborate of manganese, one part carbon, and two parts fluorspar. For orescontaining a very large proportion of silica an increased amount offluorspar would be used-say three parts. The carbon preferred to be usedwould be ground anthracite coal.

The quantity of flux to be used is generally the estimated weightof themetal in the ore; but for rich ores and rich material which can betreated without concentration an additional ten per cent. of the fluxmay be used to In the treatment of poor ores or low grade material thequantity of the flux will only be the estimated weight of the metal insuch ore or material, which when the metal is reduced will form intoglobules in the slag, which is then to be chilled in water with orwithout a small quantity of sulfuric acid or alkali, the chilled massbeing afterward dried and ground to powder, when the globules, inconsequence of their high specific gravity against the other material,can be easily recovered by any of the usual concentrating methods. Thisflux can be most advantageously used in the distillation of zinc out ofore, as it not only enables the metal to be obtained much quicker and ata lower heat than is now necessary, but prevents the usual rapiddestruction of the retorts.

In carrying out the application of the invention the material to betreated is first reduced to fine powder and preferably concentrated tobring the metallic portion to as high a proportion as is possiblewithout loss of metal. The proper quantity of the flux is then to beintimately mixed into the concentrate and the mass heated in a usualfurnace to fuse the whole. 4

If the ore or material to be treated contains arsenic, sulfur, iron, andother impurities, it should be well roasted before the flux is mixedinto it.

Having now described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent of the v United States is 1. Aflux for the purposes stated,consisting of the admixture of borate of manganese with carbon andslag-liquefying material, consisting of fluor-spar.

2. A flux for the purposes stated, consisting of an admixture of borateof manganese with carbon and tar, and slag-liquefying material, asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLF GUTENSOHN.

Witnesses: I

FREDERIC PRINCE, H. D. JAMEsoN.

